hydro shop buying

Hey all,
I was just curious, some have hydro shops in their towns, some don't... Well one is going to open in March in my town which kicks ass! but ide like to go in there and check out all the nutes (they have anything and everything) etc, and talk with someone about them, someone who really know's their stuff.

Here's the question, how do you guys do it? I mean im sure you don't walk in there saying ur growin some MJ-give me the best stuff.. how do you get any recommendations on stuff w/o telling what you are growing?

tell them your growing tomato plants, because well tomato plants are leagle + tomato plants are pretty simmiler when it comes to growing.

Best thing tho is read up on it and learn it yourself so you dont have to ask questions.

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Originally Posted by Terps

tell them your growing tomato plants, because well tomato plants are leagle + tomato plants are pretty simmiler when it comes to growing.

Best thing tho is read up on it and learn it yourself so you dont have to ask questions.

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haha yeah, I knew someone would say 'maters, but im young, wear death metal shirts,chains,face all pierced etc. I don't look like someone who grows tomatos lol.

I have an idea on a few diff ones, but still I'm always open to new suggestions-which would mean they would want to know what's being grown. :jointsmile:

i meant to put this in the lounge...

I really doubt the hydro shop is going to try to figure out whether your REALLY growing tomatoes or not. Its likely that they will believe whatever you tell them because A) they do not know you or anything about you except what you tell them and B) they are trying to sell you a product from their store.

If you read around here, you can find first hand reviews of meters, nutes, supplements, and techniques. All you need from the store is supplies, not to buddy up with the clerk.

The guy at my shop is nice. He is very helpful and doesn't ever say "So what are you trying to grow?" while still maintaining conversation about what products are good and what aren't. Chances are, he is well aware of what the majority of the customers are doing with his stuff and he already KNOWS its not tomatoes but is more than willing to go along with your tomato story. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Also, how young is young? Hopefully you are at least 18.

I'm pretty young (turned 18 last summer) so when I walk into a hydroponics shop the people behind the counter normally assume I'm growing pot. At least that's how it was for me. Without saying anything about what I was growing the guy knew what ph I would be looking for and was recommending me foliar sprays to "cut down my veg time".

It's probably not like that EVERYWHERE, but.. people aren't dumb. Most of them are gonna know and probably wont really care since you're giving them business.

They don't give a damn what your growing ,
You have to use the same discretion w/ your words that you do in a headshop . Whole list of things that can't be said = or they'll kick you out -n- ask you not to return .

-FLOWERING PLANTS- is all you gotta say . :D

Peace
Crispi :jointsmile:

Crispi is right on the money. As usual. Don't use illegal words. Don't admit to growing pot. 'Tomatoes' is nearly cliche' as a code word for pot in a hydro shop, as is 'medicinal herbs'. The shopkeeper won't discuss anything technical with you if you go in and ask about pot, because he's worried that you might be an undercover trying to nail him. It's all so silly I know (prohibition would be silly if it weren't so tragic in so many ways) but those are the silly rules we have to play by until the laws are changed.
Go vote, then you can talk about pot all ya want lol!

haha yeah I know, I research, I know what I want, etc. But I don't shop at stores(ddint have one) so never knew what ppl did, no worries here at all. I would NEVER say what I was really doing, ever to anyone.
I wouldn't call myself a nube at all, although there's a lot of other methods and things I read about that haven't been tried. I mean molasses? wtf? lol etc.
Maybe some of that Connoisseur stuff by advanced nute's.

unfortunately i'm a LOT further past 18 then I would want to be... but with a shave I could pass for 18 yea. Ya know..... since they are JUST going to open the retail store...maybe I should apply lol

Stinky!..I did vote! we just had our carcus the 9th! (yea carcus sounds cooler)

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Originally Posted by Twentyinches

Stinky!..I did vote! we just had our carcus the 9th! (yea carcus sounds cooler)

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Carcass? Naw, Fred Thompson already dropped outta the race. But McCain (an even OLDER fart) is still in...
Ohhhhhhh snap. Sorry Fred. ;) McCain, you can suck it up.

I've gone to a couple of different hydro shops in my area. At first it was wierd, but the next couple of times I felt more comfortable, like you guys said, its kinda understood that people shopping here are growing weed, but you just don't come right out and say it. I recently bought some odor control at my shop and thought "hmmm, I think my tomatoes are stinkin up the place, I better buy some odor control" Ha! Anyways, it was great to find out about these, and not having to resort to home depot. Although, what do you guys think about the safety of shopping at these places? Should I be worried about someone watching who goes in and out of these places? I would hope that the cops have better things to do than sit outside hydro shops and follow people who have bought things for their small time grow,but you never know?

Just be confident, go in there, and buy your shit. Nobody gives a fuck.

Use a little common sense though. They don't want you to tell them what you are growing and they don't care. In the years I've been growing I've never once had someone in a hydro store ask me what I was growing, or even acted like they cared. They just want to sell you as much stuff as they possibly can. When you walk in the door they automatically know you are growing weed anyway. They just don't talk about it and neither do you. You say, "My plants are yellowing a little, and I think they might need a bit more nitrogen, what do you recommend?" or "What do you guys use for making big bunches of those essential oils and resins in fruit?" or "Can you recommend something for faster growth near the end of the vegetative stage?" or "What do you sell a lot of that enhances budding and fruiting" or "What do the pros use for odor control in a grow?" You know, improvise. Make it up, whatever. Just pretend you both believe you're growing something other than weed. I think it's better by far if you don't try to make up some story about what you are growing. Sticking as close to the truth as possible always seems to be the best approach.

For a true life example in a similar situation, I was in a head shop and asked to see a certain water pipe. About a minute later a guy that looked much as I did walked up to the counter and asked to see a certain bong. The Asian store owner immediately said, "You leave now! You use for bad intent". True story.

Occasionally I'll stumble a bit in my questions because I'm so comfortable that I almost forget to refrain from weed talk, but it's not really that hard to phrase your questions in the form of fruit or crops. The deal is MJ is a flowering and fruiting plant. The same stuff that grows peaches and peppers, also grows pot, and pretty much the same way.

I much prefer to buy my stuff in a hydro shop for many reasons. A big advantage is being able to pick the brain of knowledgable people. At least half the guys that work there are growing weed at home, probably all of them. The reason they work there is not for the sparkling paycheck, but for the good discounts they get on weed growing equipment and supplies.

Just realize that you have every legal and moral right to be there (or at least pretend you do), and be confident and friendly, just like any other store you may frequent. Most employees will be more than happy to serve you and make you a satisfied customer, then welcome you and your wallet back again with open arms. Realize however, you may encounter the same kind of discrimination you could come across in any other type of store. Wealth, age, sexual orientation, appearance, distinctive odor, whatever. That shit goes on in weed supply stores just as in other stores, but if it doesn't keep you out of other stores, it shouldn't keep you out of the hydro store. On the other hand since most people that work there are stoners, they tend to be more mellow and friendly than most other store employees. Unless of course they're tweakin or some other crap, then all bets are off.

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Originally Posted by Opie Yutts

I much prefer to buy my stuff in a hydro shop for many reasons. A big advantage is being able to pick the brain of knowledgable people.

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This is it exactly, the whole reason I asked my question... almost anything and everything I buy is online, not in stores so picking a brain was my plan. Just of couse wanted to use ovious caution as I do in head shops ,BUT also see what everyone else did.

But I agree, some of the coolest ppl I have met in my life are stoners... hmm wonder why :thumbsup: :jointsmile:

If you really want to talk to the dudes, I've found that some of them would be more than happy to answer all your questions and then some. The key to making this happen is to go there when you know they will not be too busy. Or sometimes I'll just browse until the store mostly clears out and there will be less chance of interruption. Just make sure you keep xcrispi's "flowering plants" rule in mind and everything will go fine. The first time you let weed talk slip will probably be the last time you get any extra tips, and quite possibley the last time you go into that store.

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Originally Posted by Twentyinches

But I agree, some of the coolest ppl I have met in my life are stoners... hmm wonder why :thumbsup: :jointsmile:

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Same with me.

Weed makes lovers not fighters?

study up first so you have an idea of what you are talking about and dont buy alot of junk. headshops are different than a grow shop, but the same rules apply.

Good idea. Knowledge is power. Power is money, and time is money, and money is drugs... wait, what was power again?

We went to our local hydro store(there are no soil stores) to get supplies for an initial setup, spent like $700 then went back a week later bought another $100 bucks worth and you couldnt stop this guy from talking about pot. I couldnt believe it! He went so far as to tell us he had 6 weeks left of flower...rofl. Now the only criminal activity I participate in is what got me to this forum, but if I wanted I have 6 weeks to tail that guy. Be careful who you tell anything, cops are only one bad side effect of loose lips.

Doughboy:smokin:

Did he just say he had "6 weeks left to flower" or did he say his weed grow had 6 weeks to flower? If he talked about pot that is very unusual. In fact it's nonexistent in my world. I doubt his employers appreciate that.

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Originally Posted by Twentyinches

Hey all,
I was just curious, some have hydro shops in their towns, some don't... Well one is going to open in March in my town which kicks ass! but ide like to go in there and check out all the nutes (they have anything and everything) etc, and talk with someone about them, someone who really know's their stuff.

Here's the question, how do you guys do it? I mean im sure you don't walk in there saying ur growin some MJ-give me the best stuff.. how do you get any recommendations on stuff w/o telling what you are growing?

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Yea...Then I give them my name, address and phone number.....Just kidding. Be discreet, not stupid, silly. :hippy:

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Originally Posted by Opie Yutts

Did he just say he had "6 weeks left to flower" or did he say his weed grow had 6 weeks to flower? If he talked about pot that is very unusual. In fact it's nonexistent in my world. I doubt his employers appreciate that.

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I know I know I couldnt believe it either. I'm pretty sure it was his shop cause he said "if everything goes well I'll be able fill the shelves in here"...WOW:jawdropper: And yeah he was defiantly talking about weed. He had some GROWLED LEDs in his shop, we mentioned the our lighting, and he went right into debunking it and in the process started blabbing about weed.

not sure how much longer he'll be there...lol

Crap that's dangerous territory for a store owner. I hope he's real careful. Maybe you just look like the kind of person who in no way would ever tell anyone that he grows weed, and you are not affiliated with law enforcement, and you are not a tattle-tell or cry baby. I just assume that if I tell one person a secret, there is a good chance everyone will eventually know. Personally I know the definition of a secret, but it seems like I'm the only one.

we hear ya opie...(hear hear!!!) almost felt uncomfortable talkin about it there....lol, but he seemed comfortable as hell, helped us carry our dirt out, still talkin about weed while me and doughboy are scanning the parkin lots and shit for cops....may be finding a new supply store;).....
:smokebong:
whiskeytango

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Originally Posted by Opie Yutts

Personally I know the definition of a secret, but it seems like I'm the only one.

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don't worry opie, your secrets are safe with me :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by LdyMarsRN

Yea...Then I give them my name, address and phone number.....Just kidding. Be discreet, not stupid, silly. :hippy:

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geesh, what have I been doin wrong all this time!? i'm not gettin any #'s, much less any addy's lol ;) :jointsmile:

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Originally Posted by Twentyinches

since they are JUST going to open the retail store...maybe I should apply lol

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The guys at my stores get great discounts. If anyone is a serious grower, or even hobby grower, that would be a cool place to work. Besides having to deal with people, and therefore occasionally assholes, it might be relatively laid back and interesting. Beats digging ditches in the cold and wet anyway.

I say go for it.

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Originally Posted by SnSstealth

(hear hear!!!)

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Well played.

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Originally Posted by Twentyinches

don't worry opie, your secrets are safe with me :thumbsup:

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Good one. That says a lot, considering whenever I tell you my secrets, I tell the entire rest of the world at the same time. Appreciate it.

So this is my story. I am a first time grower and i needed some fert. for my plants. so i go to a local plant store, When i went inside the store i saw that i was the only customer in there. But it was cool i have a good idea of what i was needing. But after looking for 20 min i could not find what i was looking for. so i find a kid and tell him what i was needing and he was like i dont know myself let me ask i am like no no your fine i can find it myself then he gets his boss and he ask what are you growing i was stuck i did not know what to say so i said some plants in my frog tank i dont know what kind they are i took a pic and somome over the internet told me what to do. then that guy gets a guy that is a reptlie guy. so by this time i want to run out the door get in my car and go to homdepto where no one helps you. so long story short i paid 34.oo for fert. i dont need. so make shure you have your story striaght before you walk in the store

holy shit reading that paragraph made my head hurt and i tried again but because i couldnt find many periods the words all seemed to run together and make my head hurt so i hit the bowl again and tried to read it then i got it fine and wondered what store you went in cause i would have loved to go there sounds like a fun time holy shit i did this whole paragraph and didnt use one period we should see if the reptile guy can possibly give lessons of grammar or some form of sentance breakage to make it easier for the stoners out here to make sense of what they are reading cause im sure it would help here you think maybe i :beatdeadhorse:
heh........
WT

wow i did not know my english teacher from high school smoked pot .......

Believe it or not I think he's trying to help you. It's good advice to try for correct spelling and grammar in a weed forum. That is if you want your posts to get read. If something is a struggle to read and make sense of, I'm much more likely to say screw it, and move on to something else. Especially if I'm stoned, and I usually am when I'm in this forum. Your choice, but I don't read crap, and I know many others feel the same.

Thanks for sharing though, you make a good point. Like I said, try to keep close to the truth. Just say you're growing a bunch of different flowering plants, then know a couple you can name. Plants in a frog pond or whatever are not as close to MJ plants, as say peppers or something, and you're likely to come home with the wrong soil and food that way.

nice to see my twisted point of view can be seen by some people.........:jointsmile:
whiskeytango

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Originally Posted by Opie Yutts

Good one. That says a lot, considering whenever I tell you my secrets, I tell the entire rest of the world at the same time. Appreciate it.

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haha I knew you would man, glad the sarcasum was detected lol.